Studies on DNA Transfer from C_4 Crop to Wheat

DNA extracted from C_4 crops (Chinese sorghum or maize) was transferred into the em-bryo of wheat through the pollen tube canal after self cross. This caused extensive variation inthe progenies of the acceptors, and the variations were different with different acceptors. Inthe progenies of Ganmai 8 acceptor, some plants became short--statured, with lower seed set-ting, and the number of tillers varied fronl zero to five. Some Plants of the progenies of8347--2--4 and 8013--3 became sterile, and the seed color of some seeds in the progeny of6873--20--3 changed from red to white and were bred true. Certain proportions of albino,white--green mosaic and green plants appeared in the D_1, D_2 and D_3 progenes of theBlue--seed acceptor. The albino plants died gradually before the 3--leaf stage, but the mosaicplants, although grew weakly could reach maturity and produce a few seed. Segregation con-tinued in the progenies of the mosaic plants as well as the green plants, but no segregation oc-curred in the progenies of the control. Results of PAGE scanning indicated that there were obvious differences in the types, ac-tivities or contents of isoperoxidase and soluble protein among the donors, acceptors and thethree types of D_2 leaf color variants at the 3--leaf stage. The Zymograms of the isoperoxidaseof the donor and the acceptor were quite different from each other, whereas those of D_2 vari-ants were intermediate between them but approaching the acceptors. Some specific bands ofthe donors appeared in the zymograms of the D_2 progenies and some bands showed indica-tion of heterozygosity. There were also differences among the albino, moszic and greenplants.